Remembering the Individual Young Person

At Rhythmix we have thousands of interactions with people each year. They take place across a wide range of programmes, partners, target groups, musical practice and music genres. It’s really important to remember all of those individuals when we reflect on the work we do.

Here we are sharing a case study of a young woman that we worked with at a Special School in West Sussex. We deliver this in partnership with West Sussex Music Trust. who received a Fund B grant to work in every Special School in the county.

There are 11 special schools in West Sussex; in the first term of the project we worked with 8 Special Schools. Across the County there is a wide range of musical activity happening, from little or nothing at all to full-blown stage productions of musicals. Some schools are very well equipped with resources, including instruments and appropriate class environments. Some have very supportive music teachers where-as other schools struggle to deliver any kind of music on their curriculum. With this in mind, we have found it essential to informally ‘audit’ each school to find out where they are at with delivery and what they would like to see. This has resulted in a bespoke approach to the workshops and has enabled the Music Leaders to bring appropriate equipment to each session. By responding to these requirements, we have ensured a good starting point for some schools and added value for existing provision. We wish for young people to progress from a level that they’re already at to feel comfortable, confident and engaged in progressing their music making skills.

Woodlands Meed opened in September 2012 as a new Foundation Special School for Mid Sussex. Woodlands Meed is a maintained special school and includes a school, college and School site, College site and SEND Alliance Special Needs support service. We are working with the College.

Woodlands Meed College in  has around 90 students, in 10 class groups. Students in KS4 (14-16 years old) and KS5 (16-19 years old) attend the College, which aims to prepare them for moving on to adult life, whether this is to the workplace, to further education or to supportive adult provision

'I was very fortunate to be given a fantastic group of teenagers. They were really driven and wanted to learn and perform. Some members were quieter than other and over the weeks I managed to give the quiet ones more confidence to speak out and run the warm up games and songs we learnt. I was also hearten by their trust and the way they shared their love of songs and they spoke eloquently when I asked questions about different musical styles.' Ben Segal, Tutor

Catherine* attended the sessions. She loves Pop music artists like Travis and Little Mix. In the sessions she really liked singing and dancing to original songs, especially she liked mimicking the original choreography with friends from the group. She worked well with others on fun original warm ups and creating soundscapes

In the first session she enjoyed the vocal warm ups. Making original sounds and conducting the group making an original piece of music. In the second session she enjoyed learning Sing the song made famous by the Carpenters. In the third session she enjoyed making group Rhythms with different instruments and images. She enjoyed sharing her love of pop music using the Internet and the sound system provided.

Catherine* learnt to keep in time, clapping to the beat, how to warm up her voice. It was also important to use her body movements to keep the rhythmix of the music she was making. She also had her own take on what singing meant.

There were challenges in the amount of different needs the children had. However, Ben reflects that he 'was really impressed with how much the children had patience for the others who might be having difficulties with a particular exercise.'

Ben is new to the Rhythmix team and felt that he 'gained so much from this experience. I developed a steady clearer style of teaching and gained more insight into the different needs for the relevant educational difficulties. I had great fun here.'

These first few weeks with Catherine* will form the basis of a longer term music making relationship as hope to see her again in the Autumn.